GraemeClarke Posted 21 January , 2006 Share Posted 21 January , 2006 Hi, Can anyone help me with the sinking of the SS OTTOKAR on Tuesday 11 December 1917. What ship was she and what happened to her? I cannot find anything in Janes or on the web. A complete mystery to me!! Many thanks Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 21 January , 2006 Share Posted 21 January , 2006 Graeme, The Ottokar was a 957 grt steamer. She sailed on December 11, 1917 from the Tyne for London with a cargo of coal but did not arrived at her destination (she's listed as "missing" in Lloyd's War Losses). The Royal Navy presumed she was sunk by a German submarine. It's possible that the U-boat involved was UB 22, with the sinking taking place on December 13 in the Whitby area. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lörscher Posted 21 January , 2006 Share Posted 21 January , 2006 Graeme, Michael, in my opinion the most likely candidate for sinking OTTOKAR was UB 38 which sank an unknown steamer on the evening of december, 11th east of Scarborough. The date december 13th (UB 22) is a little bit late for OTTOKAR which left the Tyne on 11th. Michael: Do you have UB 38's KTB and more details of the vessel attacked? Course etc.? Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 21 January , 2006 Share Posted 21 January , 2006 Oliver, I do have UB 38's KTB, and will take a look at it tomorrow. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 21 January , 2006 Author Share Posted 21 January , 2006 Michael/Oliver Many thanks for your help in this. I did write to the RN Musuem who told me she was attacked, captured and sunk by the Mowe on 10/3/17 - obviously incorrect. I cannot believe how quickly you replied! Again, many thanks, Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 23 January , 2006 Share Posted 23 January , 2006 OK, had a look at UB 38's KTB. She claims a sinking, the only of this patrol, at 11:10pm (German time) 4 miles ENE of Scarborough. Attack is against an apparently heavily laden large armed steamer sailing unescorted. Highlights: Schuss aus unterem Rohr mit G7. Detonation nach 22s. Treffer mittschiffs. Dampfer bricht in der Mitte durch. Heck und Bug heigen sich gegeneinander und sinken innerhalb 20-30 sec. BeiDetonation fällt von Heck eine hell leuchtende Magnesiumboje, die auf den sinkenden Heck Geschütze und Flagge hell beleuchtet. Dampfer sehr lang, mindestens 6000t. (probably a grammar or spelling mistake in my trsnascription from written notes somewhere.) Estimate of vessel size 6,000 to 7,000 tons. Course: about 150° This certainly is a strong unattributed sinking claim. Whether this is a match for Ottokar to me is uncertain. The size disparity is a potential issue. I would like to know when (at what time) the steamer sailed and see what's in UB 22 KTB (which I don't have). It's also probably worth contacting Ron Young to see if divers have found the wreck of Ottokar. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 24 January , 2006 Author Share Posted 24 January , 2006 Michael, Thanks for the information. Still a bit of a mystery! Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lörscher Posted 24 January , 2006 Share Posted 24 January , 2006 Michael, U 94 sank an unknown steamer of "at least 5000 tons" on the morning of 26.02.1918. This was the norwegian SNYG of actually 370 tons! Please don't hang you up on the CO's estimates , especially for night-attacks. The steamers course (150°) would support the possibility, that it was OTTOKAR. Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 24 January , 2006 Share Posted 24 January , 2006 Michael, U 94 sank an unknown steamer of "at least 5000 tons" on the morning of 26.02.1918. This was the norwegian SNYG of actually 370 tons! Please don't hang you up on the CO's estimates , especially for night-attacks. The steamers course (150°) would support the possibility, that it was OTTOKAR. Oliver, I'm not at all dismissing the possibility that UB 38 sank Ottokar. There's still some more evidence to gather; I'm just reserving judgement until we have that information. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lörscher Posted 25 January , 2006 Share Posted 25 January , 2006 Well Michael, that's o.k. The case for me remains an possibility with "question-mark" until we know departure time from Tyne or something like that. Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 25 January , 2006 Share Posted 25 January , 2006 Found out a little more. The UKHO doesn't have anything on Ottokar. They are a few potentially viable wrecks off Scarborough though. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 10 August , 2016 Share Posted 10 August , 2016 I know this is very old post but I have Henry Minchington listed as died on 13th December 1917 when SS Ottakar was sunk. This is from his service records. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloxwichteam Posted 10 October , 2018 Share Posted 10 October , 2018 Trying to find details of Able Seaman Harold Goodall age 17 of Bloxwich in the West Midlands who is listed as missing on the SS Ottakar. Service No is Bristol Z/10064 0r BZ100. Not been able to find him on the IWM or Ancestry sites. Can any one help. George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 10 October , 2018 Share Posted 10 October , 2018 (edited) His RNVR enrolment papers are held at the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Aged 19 when he died. RNVR record is here:- http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7671921 His two medals were never claimed. Edited 10 October , 2018 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloxwichteam Posted 10 October , 2018 Share Posted 10 October , 2018 Thank you George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 11 October , 2018 Author Share Posted 11 October , 2018 Precisely the man I was researching, Regards, Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloxwichteam Posted 12 October , 2018 Share Posted 12 October , 2018 Graeme Do you have any other info on him that I can use. Thanks George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 12 October , 2018 Author Share Posted 12 October , 2018 Hi George, If you have the Elmore Green School book, which I think you have, you have everything I have. Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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